As per the MeT Centre, at least 12 places in the state recorded minimum (night) temperatures below 12 degree Celsius. The mercury dropped to ten degree Celsus and below in six places.

Kirei was followed by Sundargarh aat 7.4 degree Celsius, Rourkela 8.9 degree, Angul 9 degree, Jharsuguda 9.4 degree and both Keonjhar & Koraput 10 degree Celsius.

State capital Bhubaneswar recorded a minimum temperature of 14.4 degree Celsius, while the mercury stood at 13.2 degree Celsius in Cuttack. The temperature was 1.6 degree Celius below normal in both the cities.

Meanwhile, MeT Centre has issued cold wave warning for the state. “With cold and dry wind blowing into the state from north-west direction, a few districts in North Interior Odisha are likely to experience cold wave conditions during the next two days,” the weather agency posted on X (formerly Twitter) on Friday.

Cold wave condition is likely at one or two places in Jharsuguda, Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Deogarh, and Angul.

Dense fog may also occur at one or two places in Cuttack, Boudh, Sonepur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Khurda, Ganjam, Gajapati, Nayagarh, Rayagada and Koraput.

Shallow to moderate fog is also likely at a few places in South Odisha and at one or two places in North Coastal Odisha, Angul, and Dhenkanal.

While there will be no large change in the minimum temperature during next 3 days and it is likely to rise gradually by 2-3 degree Celsius thereafter, it added.

The mercury dropped below 15 degree Celsius again in Cuttack, which registered 14.8 degree Celsius. The city had recorded 15.6 degree Celsius on Wednesday and 14.5 degree Celsius on Tuesday. Bhubaneswar recorded 15.7 degree Celsius. The state capital had recorded 16 degree Celsius on Wednesday and 16.4 degree Celsius on Tuesday.

The night temperature in Odisha also dropped below 10 degree Celsius with Kirei in Sundargarh district being the coldest at 9 degree Celsius. Koraput and Sundargarh recorded 10 degree Celsius each, followed by Rourkela at 11.4 degree Celsius and Jharsuguda at 11.6 degree Celsius, according to Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre.

The weather agency has forecast a gradually fall by 2-3 degree Celsius at many places during next 3 days.

It further said that an average of 7.6 mm rainfall was recorded across Odisha in the last 24 hours, which was 4666% more than the normal. While most places in the state received light to moderate showers, Bhubaneswar and Cuttack saw one to spells of intense rain. Barring Jharsuguda and Malkangiri, all places recorded ‘large excess rain’ with Jagatsinghput district receiving the highest 17.5 mm rainfall followed by Koenjhar (16.3), Dhenkanal (16.2), Sonepur (15.5) and Angul (14.1).

According to Bhubaneswar Meteorological Centre, the mercury was 4-8 degrees above normal at nine places – Sambalpur (+7.5), Bhawanipatna (+6.6), Hirakud (+6), Sundargarh (+5.9), Phulbani (+5.5), Chandbali (+4.8), Balasore (+4.5), Cuttack (+4.1) and Bhubaneswar (+4). These places recorded 18.4, 16.8, 16.8, 15.5, 14, 19.4, 18.3, 18.5, 19.2 degree Celsius, respectively.

The weather agency, however, has forecast a drop in the night temperature after 24 hours.

Cuttack, Balangir, Chandbali and Kendrapada also witnessed dense fog this morning. Shallow and moderate was also seen Rourkela, Goplapur, Phulbani, Jharsuguda, Paradip, Bhubaneswar, Bhawanipatna, Sambalpur and Keonjhar.

Yellow warning of dense fog has been issued for one or two places in Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar, Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Khurda, Puri, Nayagarh, Ganjam, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Balangir, Rayagada and Koraput till 8.30 am on Friday.

Notably, Bhubaneswar airport had seen this winter’s first mid-air diversion of flight on Wednesday morning after a thick blanket of fog engulfed the city, lowering visibility to 100 metres.

Sushree Devi, who was ailing for quite some time, breathed her last at her Cuttack residence in the afternoon, family sources said.

Born on October 10, 1950, she became active in politics in the early 1970s. She was elected from Aul Assembly constituency in 1990 as a Janata Dal candidate. She represented the constituency till 1995.

Thereafter, Sushree Devi was a member of Rajya Sabha from 2002 to 2008. During her tenure as an MP, she was member of several important parliamentary committees.

A host of dignitaries, including political leaders have mourned her demise. Higher Education Minister Atanu Sabyasachi Nayak has expressed deep grief over the passing away of Sushree Devi and conveyed his condolences to the bereaved family.

Daringbadi, G Udayagiri and Phulbani, all in Kandhamal district, recorded 8.5, 9.4 and 10 degree Celsius respectively, followed by Keonjhar at 10.3 degree Celsius, Ranital in Bhadrak at 10.6 degree Celsius, Semiliguda in Koraput at 10.7, Kirei in Sundargarh at 10.7 degree Celsius and Angul at 11 degree Celsius.

The twin cities of Cuttack and Bhubaneswar recorded 14.5 and 16 degree Celsius, respectively.

According to the weather agency, very dense fog engulfed Rourkela this morning, restricting visibility to 50 metres. Phulbani, Koraput, Sonepur, Cuttack and Nayagarh also witnessed dense fog. Shallow and moderate fog was seen in Bhawanipatna and Keonjhar.

The Met office has issued yellow warning of dense fog for 2 more days.

From 8.30 am on January 4 till 8.30 am on January 5

Dense fog may occur at one or two places in Angul, Mayurbhanj, Keonjhar, Dhenkanal, Cuttack, Nayagarh, Khurda, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Rayagada, Koraput, Sonepur, Balangir, Sambalpur and Boudh districts.

Shallow to moderate fog is also likely at a few places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Khurda, Puri, Angul, Boudh, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput and one or two places in rest districts of Odisha.

From 8.30 am on January 5 till 8.30 am on January 6

Dense fog is also likely at one or two places in Balasore, Bhadrak, Jajpur, Kendrapada, Cuttack, Jagatsinghpur, Mayurbhanj, Khurda, Puri, Angul, Kandhamal, Rayagada, Koraput,Malkangiri, Gajapati, Ganjam, and Nayagarh districts.

Shallow to moderate fog is also likely at a few places in Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati, Nabarangpur, Kandhamal, Kalahandi, Ganjam, Puri, Nayagarh and at one or two places in Interior Odisha.

It has also forecast light or thundershower at a few places for two days.

January 5

Sundargarh, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj

January 6

Sundargarh, Jharsuguda, Keonjhar, Mayurbhanj

Dry weather will prevail thereafter. There will also be no change in the minimum temperature during the next 5 days when it is expected to remain 2 to 3 degree Celsius above many places in the state, it added.

The Cabinet meeting, chaired by Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, approved 10 proposals submitted by different departments.

In a bid to give a major boost to industrial development, the Cabinet approved construction of a utility corridor between Gopalpur Port and Tata Steel Industrial Park at Gopalpur in Ganjam district. The Rs 128.88-crore project to be executed through IDCO will cater to the demand of existing and upcoming industries in Gopalpur Industrial Park.

The Cabinet also approved a special incentive package for Welspun Group’s projects at Choudwar in Cuttack district and Nilgungri in Sambalpur. These projects with a combined investment of Rs 6,600 crore will create job opportunities for more than 20,000 people, revitalise textile industry, and foster sustainable industrial growth and skill development.

Welspun Group has proposed to set up an integrated textiles manufacturing unit at Choudwar, a plastics product manufacturing unit and DI pipe making unit at Nildungri.

Other Cabinet decisions include amendments to Odisha MSME Development Policy 2022. It will help the MSMEs, which have received financial incentive from the Central government, avail the higher incentives offered in the state policy.

The amendment adds provision of reimbursement of stamp duty and land conversion premium for entrepreneurs. With this, MSMEs will be able to pay the duty and land conversion premium upfront to expedite their project execution and seek reimbursement later. The Cabinet has also enhanced timeline for condonation of delay and facilitated large investment in packaged drinking water.

In transport sector, decision was taken on one-time waiver/concession in arrear of MV tax and penalty. The tax and penalty will be exempted fully for those owners who will want to scrap and de-register their vehicles.

Similarly, the penalty will be exempted along with some portion of the tax as per the age of the vehicle for those owners who would want to carry on their transport business by depositing the tax at a concessional rate.

The Cabinet also approved the proposal for amendment of the Odisha Government Land Settlement Rules, 1983 and take-over of the Secondary Board High School, Cuttack by the government with effect from January 1, 2024.

Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on Monday announced extension of the fair by one day and directed the district administration to take necessary steps in this regard. The decision was taken in view of response and interest of visitors, the CMO release said.

This came a day after Cuttack Municipal Corporation (CMC) wrote to the CMO, urging for extension of Bali Jatra, which commenced on November 27 this year on the occasion of Kartika Purnima, by two days.

Models indicate that the system would further intensify into a cyclonic storm, about 400 km east of Tamil Nadu, on the afternoon of December 3. It will move in a north-westerly direction and cross south Andhra Pradesh coast near
Machilipatnam on December 4 night or early morning of December 5, a CEC bulletin said.

The system would subsequently change its direction to north-northeastwards over land along Andhra Pradesh coast.

Under its influence, south Odisha districts of Koraput, Malkangiri, Rayagada, Gajapati and Ganjam may experience wind speed of 75 km per hour on December 5. As a consequence, moderate to heavy rainfall is likely in these districts along with districts of Kandhamal, Kalahandi and Nawarangpur, the bulletin said.

These districts may experience heavy to very heavy rainfall on December 5 and 6 while moderate to heavy to very heavy precipitation is likely at one or two locations in the districts of Khurda (including Bhubaneswar), Nayagarh, Puri, Cuttack and neighbouring areas between December 5 and 7.

The India Meteorological Department (IMD) also made similar forecast stating that light to moderate rain/ thundershower is likely at a few places in Malkangiri, Koraput, Rayagada, Gajapti and at one or two places in remaining districts of coastal Odisha including Nabarangpur, Kalahandi, Kandhamal, Boudh, Angul, Dhenkanal, Keonjhar and Mayurbhanj on December 3. The intensity of rain is expected to increase for two days thereafter.

While two makeshift ponds have been dug up each at Daya river, Bankual river ghat and Kuakhai riverbank for immersion of the idol by Bhubaneswar Municipal Corporation (BMC), similar arrangements have been made at Devi Gada in Cuttack.

The Twin City Commissionerate Police has also issued guidelines and traffic advisory to ensure smooth conduct of the immersion ceremony in both the cities.

There are three Bhasani Committees in the capital city – Bhubaneswar Bhasani Utsav Committee at Saheed Nagar, Rajdhani Mandir Surakshya Bhasani Samiti at Nayapalli and Uttar Bhubaneswar Bhasani Committee at Chandrasekharpur. All idols will congregate at their designated places in Saheed Nagar, Nayapalli, and the ground near the IOCL office in Chandrasekharpur and follow the designated route for immersion.

Traffic restriction in Bhubaneswar will begin at 3 pm or starting time of the processions and continue till round 1 am.

>> For the immersion procession of Bhubaneswar Bhasani Utsav Committee at Saheed Nagar, the traffic, intending to proceed towards Rupali Square from Vani Vihar side, will be diverted from Vani Vihar towards Acharya Vihar.

>> No vehicles will be allowed to ply on Janpath and instead diverted to Sachivalay Marg and other adjacent roads.

>> For the immersion procession of Rajdhani Mandir Suraksha Bhasani Samiti, Nayapalli, the traffic, intending to proceed towards Cuttack from CRP square side, will be diverted from CRP square towards Jaydev Vihar via Ekamra Park and Biju Pattnaik College. The vehicular traffic on Stewart school road, Unit-8 Road, OUAT square-New Airport Road will be diverted on to the adjacent roads.

>> For Uttar Bhubaneswar Vasani Committee, the traffic intending to proceed towards Nalco Square from the KIIT side will be diverted to other adjacent roads from Nandankanan – Jayadev Vihar road.

Heavy vehicles coming from Khurdha side towards Bhubaneswar will be diverted at starting Point of Fire Station overbridge towards the flyover. No vehicles shall be allowed to ply on service road.

In Cuttack, the traffic restrictions will be in place from 7 am till the end of the procession.

>> No vehicle will be allowed directly towards Ranihat Clock tower from CDA Market Complex, Post Office Chhak and Bombay Hotel Chhak of College Square. The commuters can instead take Mahanadi Ring Road from CDA Market complex to Jobra Chhak via Bombay Hotel and leave Cuttack.

>> No vehicle will be allowed from Malgodown State Bank side to College Chhak through Pilgrim Road. They can go to OMP/CDA Market Chhak, College Square through Malgodown and Malgodown flyover bridge.

>> No vehicle will be allowed from Mochi Sahi Chhak to Clock Tower Chhak directly via Ranihat High School. They can take the left turn at Mochi Sahi Chhak to go to Clock Tower Chhak or Jobra Chhak via Dr Tejeswar Rao Chhak.

>> When tableaux approach Ranihat Chhak, no vehicle will be allowed from Bajrakabati Bridge to Ranihat Chhak. The commuters can instead go to Buxibazaar or Mangalabag through Kesharpur Bridge.

>> At the time of tableaux passing Mangalabag Chhak, no vehicle will be allowed to go from Kathagola Chhak to Mangalabag Chhak.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go towards Howrah Motor Chhak from Matamath Chhak and Vigilance Gada.

>> No vehicle shall be allowed to go towards Mani Sahoo Chhak and Mastan Dargha chhak (Tanishq) from Girnar Hotel Chhak.

>> No vehicle shall he allowed to go towards Buxibazaar Chhak from Bepari Sahi Durga Ghar Chhak and Samaj office Chhak.

>> No vehicle shall be allowed to go towards Pravat Cinema from Meria Bazaar bridge.

>> No vehicle shall be allowed to go towards Laxmi Brass Band or Kar Palace.

>> No vehicle shall be allowed to go from Hatipokhari Chhak to Jail Road Chhak.

>> No vehicle shall be allowed from Ravenshaw Girls High School to Padhiari Library and Gouri Shankar Park. Similarly, vehicles are not allowed to go towards Gouri Shankar Park and Utkalika Chhak from Dharmashala Chhak.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go from High Court Chhak to Choudhury Bazaar via Balubazar Chhak.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go towards Purna Sahoo Chhak from Municipality Old Gate.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go towards Purna Sahoo Chhak from Nandi Sahi.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go Kathajodi Ring road from Tala Telenga Bazaar Hanuman Temple via Nursigha Nath Matha.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go towards Purna Sahoo Chhak from Nandi Sahi via Apananka Hotel Chhak.

>> No vehicle will be allowed to go towards Purighat Gada on Kathajodi Ring Road from Khannagar Chhak and Blue Lagoon Hotel Chhak.

The traffic regulations will not apply to police, fire brigade, excise, ambulance and other emergency service vehicles. In case of violation of the order, the offender has to pay a penalty of Rs 500, which may go up to Rs 1000 per offence.

The Chief Minister launched 5351 developmental projects worth Rs 186.50 crore in eight Assembly constituencies of Cuttack district and 3353 projects worth Rs 124.50 crore five Assembly segments of Kendrapada, an official release said.

Each panchayat in the two districts would get Rs 50 lakh under the scheme, said the release from the Chief Minister’s Office (CMO).

Speaking on the launch of these projects through video-conference from Bhubaneswar, Naveen said the scheme aims at developing rural infrastructure leading to accelerated growth and promoting Jagannath culture and traditions.

This programme aims to spread Jagannathan culture in every village, develop every place of worship to strengthen the basic foundation of Odisha’s culture and develop digital infrastructure across the state. This will be the basic foundation for building an ambitious Odisha.

The Chief Minister said that the development of all villages in the state is the ultimate goal. Our culture will be protected and modernity will be developed in the villages. Everyone in the village will be guaranteed education and health. The developed village will be the identity of modern Odisha, he said